S.C. LEE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

8th Grade Electives Selection

8th Graders will have two of the following electives:

Athletics

Athletics involves participation in competitive sports. Practices take place either before or after school depending on which sports the students participate in. There is usually at least one game scheduled per week either after school or in the evening. The students are responsible for providing their own transportation after practices and games. Athletics requires students to participate in sports throughout the year or students will be subject to removal from the class. Students participating in Athletics must have a physical dated no earlier than May of the upcoming school year and completed the CCISD UIL paperwork found on the CCISD web site. Physical and UIL paperwork need to be turned in to the CCHS annex prior to the first day of school. Sports available are: Football, Volleyball, Cross-country, basketball, power lifting, golf, tennis, and track.

Art

This basic drawing course includes the design elements of line, shape, value, form, color and texture. Painting, printing, and ceramic projects will be included. The students are encouraged to constantly improve their abilities. The students will be expected to apply themselves in all assigned work in order to pass the course.

Advanced Art

The Advanced Art Class is for 8th grade students who have completed the Basic Art class and have a recommendation from the Art 1 teacher. Students will build on prior knowledge with a variety of fine and applied art projects such as paintings, drawing techniques, portraiture, printmaking, pottery, sculpture, and weaving. This class is for the self-motivated student interested in the creative process and exploring art media.

Choir

Students will be placed in one of three 8th Grade Choir classes based on previous choir experiences. Choir students have opportunities to perform in scheduled concerts, UIL contests, and events and will occasionally be involved in after school scheduled rehearsals. Students will learn to read music with a choral ensemble and will sing music from a variety of styles.

Beginning Band

(level I) This elective is intended for students interested in playing and performing on musical instruments with little or no prior knowledge. Seventh and Eighth graders who have not been in band previously can be in the beginning band. Instrument selection will be determined by the director with the interest of the student in mind. Band involves a few concerts during the year. The students are responsible for arranging their own transportation.

Advanced Band

(level II, III, and IV) This UIL (University Interscholastic League) elective is intended for students with at least one year of band experience. Students will be placed in an ensemble based on their ability as assessed by the directors. This yearlong course will introduce “comprehensive musicianship” through music performance of challenging and varied literature. Skills and concepts from the previous year are developed and expanded upon in a mixed ensemble setting. Students in the Advanced Bands will perform at least three concerts a year. Individual growth and achievement are encouraged through participation in adjudicated solo and ensemble contests, honor bands, and private lessons.

Theater Arts

This course focuses on the basics of Theater performance, history, technology, and etiquette. Students will be responsible for creating characterizations through performance as well as learning about the components of Theater through book work. All class participants will be encouraged to attend local theater performances.

Student Aide

Students help the school run smoothly. Students are assigned to assist in the Front Office, the Counselors’ Office, Band, Classrooms or Library. Students who are chosen for these positions must be academically and personally responsible, dependable, and cooperative.

Principals of Human Services

(1 high school credit): This course will enable students to investigate careers in the human services career cluster including: counseling and mental health, early childhood development, family community, and personal care services. During the course students will learn and develop the personal characteristics for success in high-skill, high-wage, or high-demand careers.

Principals of Hospitality and Tourism

(1 high school credit): This course allows students to investigate careers in tourism, resorts, amusement attractions, and restaurants and food services. Students use knowledge and skills that meet industry standards to function effectively in various positions within this industry.

German / Spanish

(1 high school credit each) Level 1 stresses the acquisition of vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation necessary to comprehend and communicate at the “beginner level”. Instruction will cover all five domains: Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing, and Culture. Active participation and culturally relevant projects are required both semesters. If the student fails the second semester of a foreign language it is highly recommended that the student repeats the entire year. Partial state credit may not be awarded for this course. The student must earn 1 full credit in order to receive any state credit.

German / Spanish II

(1 high school credit each): Level 2 is a review and extension of the skills acquired at level 1 with a continued emphasis on functional communication. Same criteria apply for earning high school credit as German I /Spanish I.

Cougar News

Cougar news is the S. C. Lee news production which provides the campus with information and current events. Students who are part of the news team will learn to write, film, and edit the news for production. Students are expected to be self-starters and work independently on individual segments for daily news shows. These segments include sports, events, campus news, days of the week and movie previews.

Yearbook

Students have the opportunity to learn about photography and how yearbooks are created. Students will learn to upload photos to the computer and create pages based on the Yearbook theme. Students interested in this class will need to complete an application and receive a teacher recommendation. Students will be required to attend functions outside of the normal school day at various locations in Copperas Cove. Students are responsible for arranging their transportation. Students must also maintain good academic standing.

Gateway to Technology

(GTT 1 high school credit): This course is for students interested in a career in engineering. Students will be introduced to design and modeling concepts with a focus on sketching original designs and using AutoDesk Inventor to render 3 dimensional versions of their sketches. Students will also gain knowledge in automation, robotics technology, flight and space applications and electrical engineering concepts.

Cougar U

Students have the opportunity to work in the Cougar U class to keep up with class assignments, homework, and study skills.

(Students not meeting the passing standard on the STAAR tests will have a Target Intervention class in place of an elective.)